Differential mechanism



1945- F. D. KNOBLOCK 2,335,364

DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM Filed June 1'7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. D. KNOBLOCK DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISI Filed June 17, 1943 Oct. 2, 1945.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 2, 1945 'um'rso" s'rA'rss PATENT orrics nmasnifii la ncmmsu I Frederick D. Knoblo'ck, Birmingham, Mlcln, as:

l rig-nor,- by mesne assignments, to Patent De velopers, Inn, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Appllcatlon June 17, 1943, Serlal fie. 491,189

(Cl. u-ssasl 2 Claims. The present invention is an improvement in differentials or axle compensstors' for two opposed shafts.

The principal objects of the invention are tov provide a differential which is smaller, simpler, cheaper to manufacture, more durable in operation and more readily fabricated, as well as requiring less metal than other 'diiferentisis now These objects are attained in part by providing the driven clutch members with teeth each of which has an integral clutch surface or section and an uninterrupted straight line extension the edges of which are engaged b the driving cam member in the disengaging operation. This con! struction eliminates a driven'cam member and also the necessity for separately machining cam sections or surfaces either as an integral Part of the driven clutch member 'or as a separate part which is later secured, as by hydrogen-limiting, to the driven clutch me'mber,

In addition the present construction makes it possible to fabricate the driven clutch member withva smaller outside diameter or, for the same outside diameter. with more clutch toothbearing areas, which increases the durability and life of the diflerential.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawin'gaillustrating one embodimen and wherein Fig. i is a sectional view through thgghi'd'e'rem tial and housing, the ring gear heingshown in dottedlines:

Fig. 2 shows the casing, the cover and the subasselnbly P Z n- Fig. 8c is a section on line H of Fig. i;

Fig. 3b is a sectionon line b-b ofiPig. i:

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the diii'erential:

Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the driving clutch members together with the associated clutch disengaging member:

Fig. 6 is a section on line H of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the driven clutch members illustrating the clutch tooth arrangement; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 0-. of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings. wherein like reference numerals indicate like arts, it an Ii are adjacent ends of two opposed shafts on which the differential or compensator is mounted; it is the casing or housing carrying the usual ring gear shown in dotted lines at I! and II is the cover for the casing l2.

A suitable driving member which is preferably a central spider i4 i mounted in the housing and rotates therewith. This spider is provided on each face with driving clutch. teeth it that engage driven clutch teeth It formed on two driven clutch members ll one of which is associated with the shaft I! and the other with shaft ii. Each driven clutch member H is mounted on a sleeve II and is slidable therealong by the provision of plines II on the driven clutch members ll engaging splines I. on said sleeves ll. Sleeves It are preferably provided with a leoond set of splines ii that engage splines (not shown) on shafts it and ii, though said sleeves may be keyed to said shafts or otherwise secured thereto. 7

'I'heciutch disengaging operation is effected when there is relative speed between the two shafts is; aminoinc causes one or the other of driver: clutch menihersfll to slide axially outward along its. M soiliatei: l sleeve member is as -shown atithiefigiithanfside in Fig. 1. This or movement compresses one of the two coiled of the inventive :idoliiel springs, which reacts between its associated driven l fi b l' l1 and spring. retainer I... One driven?! v [j 1: '1 may e full! disengaied at the sum time the other is fully disengaged under certiin'conditions.

is effected by cam teeth it formed on a clutch diseng ing The clutch disengaging operatic p member 26 mounted within the spider or driving clutch member I 4. This clutch diseng ging mem. ber 28 is rotatable relative to, the spider or driven clutch, member it but is prevented from -axial movement relative thereto by suitable retaining means such as a snap ring-2'1 engaging a groove or recess 18 in aside: it and a registering groove oriocess 2's in clutch disengaging member fl. The clutch disengaging member II is provided with a pllfiality, preferably four. of openings It through which the snap ring 21 may be engaged and forced outwardly from groove 2| into groove "so that member 26 may be disassembled from spider H by axial movement. Such a removable connection between the driving clutch member l4 and the clutch disengaging member ll facilitates production and assembly and disassembly of the parts.

The cam teeth 2! on the clutch disengaging member 28 engage the edges II of the portions surfaces eliminated, and other desirable obiects obtained by forming the driven clutch teeth I. with an integral proionration the edges of which areensasedbythednvinscamtoothttinthe dilens eins action. Inch tooth ll, ll on this drtvenciutoh member il canbemachinedat one operation as the portion it is a prolongs ticn or extension of the clutch portion ll onboth the face and sides and edges. The construction is clearly shown in Piss. i, to, 3b, 4 and I. In

the prior art there is a driving cam member which is associated with a driven cam member. V In the present construction the drivlnl cam member it is the only cam member inasmuch as the edses ti on proiections it that cooperate with the teeth on member "have no camming function which guiilgtion is alone performed by the cammins' tee In I ia. l the combined clutch section It and section W is shown in elevation. this view illustratine the vertical alignment oi the front face from an inspection oi Fig. 1 each spring retainer 14 is receive the external splines 'Ihis construction prevents the spring II from taking torque at any time. The spring retainer thrusts against the recesses ll machined in the diiierential case d ll. One variation in the desim oi the spring retainer II is to have its inner part ll such that there is a clearance betweem it and the innersurlace 8| of easing I! and II of cover ing a wire It throush openings in the heads 44 of the bolts I, and binding the free ends of said wire in any suitable fashion.

The present construction provides a simple, small, enicient. cheap and durable axle dilierential or compensator that can be readily produced and assembled and disassembled.

It will be understood that while one embodiment oi 'the inventive idea has been illustrated and described in detail such idea is susceptible oi other mechanical embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. In a diilerential adapted to be mounted in a casing and oi the type comprising a driving clutch member. a clutch dieenlagins member. driven clutch members, a spring and a spring retainer associated with each driven clutch member and a sleeve on which each driven clutch member is mounted. the provision of splines on each driven clutch member ens lr s splines on its associated sleeve the outer ends c! said splines being upset to hold said parts together as a subassembly when removed from the cosine.

2. In a diii'erential oi the type comprisins a member provided with driving clutch teeth. a clutch disengaging member rotatable therein and relatively thereto and provided with com teeth. and a driven clutch member provided with clutch teeth. the improvement which consists oi a driven clutch member provided with a plurality of teeth each oi which has a clutch surface to transmit of said teeth being beveled to reduce back-lash in the clutching region and to reduce in the resion where they ensure said cam FREDERICK D. KNOBLOCK. 

